Access to health care, which includes access to essential drugs, is part of the fulfillment of the fundamental human right to health. Essential medicines save lives and improve health when they are available, affordable, of assured quality and properly used.

Providing access to affordable essential medicines is also one of the targets (Target 17) set for achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to which the international community is committed. Availability of adequate and sustainable drug
financing mechanisms is one of the ways of ensuring access to drugs.

In order to develop appropriate policy and sound drug financing mechanism, policy makers and other stake holders need up-to-date and reliable information on the drug financing situation of the country.